Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
Transforming the lives of children in central Iowa through one-to-one mentorship
Why Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa?
BBBS of Central Iowa seeks to ignite the power and promise of youth through one-to-one mentoring relationships, serving youth and families in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties.
- 50+ years of impacting youth in central Iowa
- Over 20,000 youth served
- 93% of participating youth maintained or improved avoidance of risky behaviors
- 82% of participating youth maintained or improved their grades
- Matches in central Iowa typically last an average of about 3 years—which is longer than the national average for matches.
On average, 90 youth are waiting for a mentor—but YOU can be the one to make a difference.
How you can make a difference in the life of a child
A quality mentor (Big) can make a difference in their mentee's (Little) life, using encouragement and constructive feedback to help youth grow and develop to reach their full potential.
Volunteering to be a Big to a Little can make a significant difference. Mentors for youth often fulfill various roles, from being a confidant, a life coach, or a resource that helps them pursue future career goals. Many roles need to be fulfilled in the lives of the youth in our community. A mentor is an invaluable resource for these youth.
If you or someone you know wants to make a difference in a young person's life, consider becoming a Big.
How you can make a difference in the life of a child in Central Iowa
Youth need a support system that can help them discover a brighter future—and volunteers want to help in a way that feels effective and meaningful to them. But too often, it’s hard to find opportunities where a real impact is felt.
Without meaningful opportunities, volunteers miss out on positively influencing the next generation—and youth can find themselves in challenging situations including unhealthy choices and behaviors.
How you can make a difference in the life of a child
A quality mentor (Big) can make a difference in their mentee's (Little) life, using encouragement and constructive feedback to help youth grow and develop to reach their full potential.
Volunteering to be a Big to a Little can make a significant difference. Mentors for youth often fulfill various roles, from being a confidant, a life coach, or a resource that helps them pursue future career goals. Many roles need to be fulfilled in the lives of the youth in our community. A mentor is an invaluable resource for these youth.
If you or someone you know wants to make a difference in a young person's life, consider becoming a Big.
It doesn’t take special skills or qualifications.
Mentors create a safe environment for youth. BBBS of Central Iowa helps mentors form meaningful relationships that broaden perspectives, provide positive influences, and build the confidence youth need to set goals and pursue brighter futures.
Build Real Relationships
One-to-one mentoring relationships allow youth to have a trusted adult and mentor in their lives.
Foster Growth
Youth gain confidence as they have new experiences and get a new perspective on the world around them.
Make a Long-Lasting Impact
Both mentors and youth experience lifelong transformation and discover a new world of possibilities.
Ready to transform a youth’s life?
1. Join Our Village
Volunteers: Sign up to be a mentor, and our team will work with you to determine if becoming a Big is the right next step. We ask our mentors for a one-year commitment at least.
Parents/Guardians/Young Adults: Work with a child enrollment specialist to enroll your child in the program.
2. Get Matched
Our intentional matching process evaluates personality, interests, and other factors to ensure the best chance of a strong relationship between our Bigs and Littles. We also conduct background checks, assessments, and interviews to establish the best chance of a safe, successful match.
3. Experience the Impact
Both the youth’s and adult’s lives are transformed through the mentoring relationship. Youth get their eyes opened to a whole new world of possibilities, while mentors gain new perspectives and learn more about themselves as they make a real difference in their community.
Ready to transform a youth’s life?
1. Join Our Village
Volunteers: Sign up to be a mentor, and our team will work with you to determine if becoming a Big is the right next step. We ask our mentors for a one-year commitment at least.
Parents/Guardians/Young Adults: Work with a child enrollment specialist to enroll your child in the program.
2. Get Matched
Our intentional matching process evaluates personality, interests, and other factors to ensure the best chance of a strong relationship between our Bigs and Littles. We also conduct background checks, assessments, and interviews to establish the best chance of a safe, successful match.
3. Experience the Impact
Both the youth’s and adult’s lives are transformed through the mentoring relationship. Youth get their eyes opened to a whole new world of possibilities, while mentors gain new perspectives and learn more about themselves as they make a real difference in their community.
Donate
Your donation helps build the foundations of our support system for our mentors and youth. Donations to BBBS of Central Iowa directly fund our ability to deliver programs and ensure that our Bigs and Littles have the resources they need to build strong relationships.
Give a gift that impacts youth in our local community, and donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa today.
Other Ways to Volunteer
Volunteer at an Activity
Want to uplift youth in our community and want to learn more about what BBBS of Central Iowa is all about? Volunteer to help at one of our upcoming events! Volunteering at events can be a great way to see the firsthand impact and see if one-to-one mentorship is your best next step.
Skills-Based Volunteering
Do you want to help BBBS of Central Iowa, but aren’t sure if becoming a mentor is right for you? You can still get involved! We’re always looking for skills-based volunteers to assist with our programs and operations.
